'The best part of my job is telling stories that yearn to be told.'
BONITA, Calif. - A disgraced plastic surgeon convicted in the death of a San Diego woman will be released from prison next month after serving only half of his three-year sentence, devastating the victim's family on the seventh anniversary of her death.
Carlos Chacon is scheduled for release from Donovan State Prison on March 13, according to a letter from state corrections officials received by the family of Megan Espinoza last week. Espinoza died in 2018 during a botched breast surgery at Dr. Chacon’s Bonita clinic.'He robbed her of her life. A year and a half is not justice. It's not a fair exchange for what he did, for the consequences of his act,' said Judith Dorcey, Espinoza's mother. “He had no regard for her life.”The early release comes as an especially painful blow to the family, arriving on the anniversary of Espinoza's death. Dorcey said the family was told by prosecutors before sentencing that Chacon would serve at least 80 percent of his sentence as part of his plea deal.'It's heartbreaking. I feel like the justice system has betrayed Megan, betrayed us,' Dorcey said.Espinoza, a mother of two, died in 2018 after undergoing breast augmentation surgery. Prosecutors alleged that Chacon allowed an unqualified nurse to sedate Espinoza and permitted her to suffocate in the operating room for hours while preventing staff from calling 911.In 2024, Chacon pleaded guilty to several charges, including voluntary manslaughter, and was sentenced to three years in prison. As part of his plea deal, he was barred from practicing medicine in California.Despite the ban, Dorcey expressed concern about Chacon's release date.'My fear is that he will either open a practice in Mexico or another state and that he will put other people at harm,' she said.The District Attorney's office released a statement acknowledging the family's frustration: 'The law provides for 80 percent credit but unfortunately, the calculations are not certain and CDCR has options for early releases which has a very negative impact on victims who count on a certain sentence. We believe he shouldn't be released early and are expressing this to CDCR.”A spokesperson for the CDCR released the following statement: “Carlos O. Chacon will not be released early. He will be released to parole supervision after serving his full sentence as required by law. Incarcerated individuals may earn credit toward their sentence as allowed by law. Such provisions include Penal Code sections 2933 through 2933.6, , as well as credits awarded under Sections 3043 through 3043.8 of Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations.”This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Are Your Black Plastic Cooking Utensils Dangerous?Bethany Heitman is a contributing editor at NBC Select.
Read more »
Martha Stewart Addresses Plastic Surgery Rumors, Explains Facial InjuryLifestyle icon Martha Stewart clarifies rumors about plastic surgery, attributing any facial work to a past injury. Stewart details a lip injury sustained a decade ago requiring reconstructive surgery. The 84-year-old entrepreneur and television personality spoke to People magazine about her skincare line and the misunderstandings surrounding cosmetic procedures. She emphasizes that the work was for repair, not enhancement.
Read more »
Martha Stewart Addresses Plastic Surgery RumorsMartha Stewart clarifies plastic surgery rumors, recounting a past injury that required a plastic surgeon's intervention, while promoting her skincare line and attending various events.
Read more »
Martha Stewart Addresses Plastic Surgery Rumors and Local Pennsylvania NewsMartha Stewart clarifies plastic surgery rumors, recounting a past injury that required medical repair. Additionally, Pennsylvania schools announce closures and delays due to severe weather. Local police are seeking public assistance in identifying individuals related to incidents in Dauphin County.
Read more »
Lorain County plastic bag recycling contest turns clutter into prizes for schoolsLorain County’s plastic bag recycling contest kept nearly 300 pounds out of landfills and rewarded schools with recycled plastic prizes.
Read more »
Martha Stewart Insists Yet Again That She's Hasn't Gotten Plastic SurgeryMartha Stewart told 'People' that she hasn't had plastic surgery like a facelift, but did share that she had reconstructive plastic surgery for a split lip about a decade ago.
Read more »